Circumflex
/ˈsɜːrkəmfleks/
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Pronunciation Change
The circumflex often changes the sound of the vowel it's over, making pronunciation distinct.
The 'â' in 'pâte' sounds different from the 'a' in 'patte'.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Letters
In some languages, the circumflex indicates a historical letter that no longer exists.
French 'hôpital' used to be spelled 'hospital', the circumflex replaced 's'.
Pro Tip 3/3Spelling Conventions
It's crucial to memorize circumflex use in vocabulary as it may affect meaning.
'Du' and 'dû' in French have different meanings.
Compare with
AccentCaretDiacriticHatMarkRoofSuperscriptWedge
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